Telegraph sending instrument



Sept. 29,1925. 1,555,210

, J. A. HULIT TELEGRAPH snnnme Iuswnuunw Filed Feb, 15. 1922 sSheets-Sheet 1 @Jm 41mm @W' Sept. 29, 1925. 1 555 2 J. A. HULITTELEGRAPH SENDING INSTRUMENT Fi1ed-Feb. 15. 1922 s Sheds-Sheet 2 I I IIII l r Sept.29 1925. c 1,555,210

' J. A. HULIT TELEGRAPH SENDING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 15, 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 3 N R I I 3) k) &

- Patented Sept. .29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. HULIT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEGRAPH SENDING INSTRUMENT;

Application filed February 15 1922. Serial No. 536,612.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HULIT, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Telegraph Sending Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph apparatus for transmitting orsending messages.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide novel andimproved means whereby a succession of dots may be transmitted withoutthe necessity of more than one movement of the hand of the operator,thus obviating the necessity of a separate movement for each dot, andwhereby each dash is produced by a movement of the hand of the operator,in the ordinary way, all by one and the same key, thus reducing theamount of labor and effort necessary on the part of the operator totransmit messages over a considerable period of time, and reducing thestrain imposed on the operator, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features ofconstruction and combinations tending to increase the general efiiciencyand desirability of a telegraph sending instrument having means of thisparticular character for transmitting a plurality of dots by one and thesame move ment of the same sending key by which the operator transmitsthe dashes by a separate moven'ient of the key for each dash.

To this and other useful ends the invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is a plan of a telegraph sending instrument having dotand dash transmitting means embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 struinent.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the other side of said instrument.

Figure 4 is a' transverse section on line 44 in Figure 1.

is a side elevation of said in- Figure 5 is a similar section on line 55in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar section on line 66 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on line 4 1 9 r in lhgrne o.

Figure 8 1s a detail view showing a pore tion of the bottom'of the baseupon which the various devices constituting said instrument are mountedfor operation.

As thus illustrated the invention comprises a base 1 upon which aremounted the transversely arranged and oppositely disposed plates 2 and 3which are rigidly connected together at their upper ends by horizontalplates 4, thus forming a rectangular frame 011 said base. Anuprightpivot 5 supports the horizontally movable key bar or lever 6which is provided at its outer end with the handle 7 of any suit-ablecharacter. This bar or lever 6 swings in the guide formed by the notch 8in the plate 2, this horizontal swinging movement being limited on oneside by the adjustable screw stop 9 and at the other side by thestationary stop or contact 10 on the block 11, said bar or lever 6having an adjustable screw 12 for engaging the contact 10, thereby toclose the circuit for the dashes. Another bar or lever 13 is mounted onthe vertical pivot 5, above the bar 6, and a stationary contact screw 14mounted in a stationary block 15 on the frame engages the bar 13 tolimit its motion in one direction. The bar 13 is provided with 2.depending bracket 16 to which is attached the spring 17 which isconnected at its other end to the adjusting screw 18 by which thetension of this spring is regulated. It will be seen that the spring 17draws the bracket 16 against the key-bar 6, and thereby normally drawsthe latter toward the screw 9 previously mentioned, and, of course, thisspring 17 normally holds the bar 13 against the screw 14 previously mentioned, whereby the previously mentioned contacts 10 and 12 are normallyopen. The bar 13 is provided with a bracket 19 upon which is mounted anadjusting screw 20, and this screw is connected by the spring 21 withthe bar 6, whereby this spring is compressed when the lever 6 is swungover against the screw 9, this being the movement of the key whichproduces the dots as will more fully appear. Thus the bar 6 is normallyout of contact with the screw 9, and is also out of contact with thestat-ionary electrical contact 10, being yieldingly maintained in thisposition by the two springs 17 and 21 connected and arranged in themanner shown and described. As stated, to produce the dashes theoperator moves the key lever 6 to the left to bring the screw 12 intoengagement with the contact 10, and then releases the lever to normalposition, thus manually producing the dashes in a manner that will bereadily understood.

The means for automatically producing a succession of dots, by merelyone movement of the key lever 6, are as follows: A longitudinal shaft 22is suitably mounted in bearings on the frame and is provided with a gearwheel 23 which engages the pinion 24 on the shaft 25 which is connectedby worm gearing 26 with electric motor 27 mounted on the base. The gearwheel 28 is loose on said shaft 22 and is subject to the pressure of afriction clutch 29 having a coil spring 30 on said shaft, whereby thegear wheel 28 may remain stationary while the gear wheel 23 is drivenconstantly by said lnotor. The gear wheel 28 is thus nor mally heldstationary by its engagement with the pinion 31 on the upper shaft 32,which is supported in suitable bearings on the frame. A ratchet-wheel 33is mounted on the outer end of this shaft 32 and is held normallyagainst rotation by a dog 34 held in engagement therewith by the tensionof the spring 35 connected to the lower end of said dog, the latterbeing pivoted at 36 to swing toward and away from said ratchetwheel. Aplate 37 on the key lever 6 normally engages the dog 34, whereby thisdog is released from said ratchet-wheel when said key lever 6 is swunglaterally to the right. A lever 38 engages the toothed wheel 39 on theshaft 32, being pivoted at 40 to swing about a horizontal axis. Thelower end portion, of the lever 38 serves as a contact to engage thestationary contact 41, the two contacts being normally open. A spring 42is connected to the lever 38, below the pivotal point 40, so that thislever is vibrated when the shaft 32 is rotated, and at such time theflexibility of the lower portion of the lever 38 is sufficient to enableit to engage the contact 41 when retracted by the spring 42, thusproducing the make and break action in the circuit to produce the dots.Thus, when the lever 6 is moved to the right, the wheel 33 is releasedby the dog 34, and the shaft 42 is rotated to rapidly open and close thecontacts formed by the lower end of the lever and the screw 41, and asuccession of dots will be sent over the line circuit as long as the keylever is maintained in this position. It will be understood, of course,that the friction clutch 29 drives the shaft 32 as soon as the latter isreleased by the disengagement of the dog ably connected in the linecircuit, and are normally -open, while the contacts formed by the lowerend of the lever 38 and thescrew 41 are connected in the line circuit inparallel or multiple with the contacts 10 and 12, whereby the linecircuit can be closed at either one of the two points thus con nected inmultiple, and whereby the operator can close either point at will. Whenthe key lever 6 is swung to the left, from its normal position, thecontacts 10 and 12 are closed and a dash is transmitted. On the otherhand, when the key lever is swung to the right the contacts formed bythe lower end of the lever 38 and the screw 41 are rapidly opened andclosed, automatically, in the manner described, by the power furnishedby the electric motor, and the operator may send any number of dots insuccession with but one movement of the hand. Of course, the operatorbecomes skilled in the use of the instrument and learns how to controlthe mechanism to send as many dots as are necessary at any one time, inaccordance with the code being used. In other words, it is not necessaryfor the operator to employ a separate movement of the hand for each dot,for any number of dots may be sent in succession by one move- 'ment ofthe hand, thus reducing the amount of effort and labor necessary on thepart of the operator to transmit messages, relieving the strain on theoperator incident to lon periods of service or duty at the telegraphkey. Of course, in the transmission of one or two messages, the ordinarymethod does not tire the operator, but for a days work, or for severalhours continuous duty at the key, a separate movement of the hand foreach dot rapidly counts up and in the aggregate represents considerableeffort and strain to which the operator is subject when the messages aresent in the ordinary manner. However, when only one movement of the handis necessary for any desired number of dots, it is obvious that theeffort and labor necessary on the part of the operator is greatlyreduced. It will be understood, of course, that the circuit wires can bearranged in any suitable manner, in order to include the make and breakcontacts in the line circuit, so that the instrument will be operativeto transmit telegraphic messages by use of the key lever. in the mannerdescribed. The motor runs continuously, of course, but this power isonly utilized for the sending of the dots, the dashes beingtransmittedin the ordinary manner and without any assistance from said motor orother source of power. Obviously, of course, the motor can be regulatedor controlled to ensure the necessary or desired speed of operationthereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention involves aconstantly operat- IOU ing motor, and by this is meant any form ofmotor, of course, for while an electric motor is shown and described itwill be understood that any source of power can be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The novel means provided for automatically transmitting a succession ofelectrical impulses, over a. line circuit, are shown as constituting themeans for transmitting dots in a telegraph system, but it will beunderstood that said novel means can be employed for transmittingelectrical impulses for any suitable or desired purpose.

Thus the single make and break device 38 and 41 is adapted to send ortransmit differentcombinations of electrical impulses, or to senddifferent combinations of dots, and hence this is not a make and breakdevice which has one predetermined mode of operation to always transmitor send a predetermined number of dots or impulses. To the contrary,this make and break device is controllable by the key to transmit.different combinations of impulses, and hence the make and break devicein question is not individual or allotted to any particular letter ofthe alphabet, but to the contrary is necessary for the transmission ofany letter of the alphabet containing dots. The key does not operate themake and break device, but merely exercises control t-hereover todetermine the different combinations of impulses to be transmitted.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of a make and breakdevice to transmit dots, a constantly operating motor, powertransmitting means to transmit power from said motor to said device, anda key to manually control said power transmitting means and whereby tostart and stop the operation of the device at will, thereby to transmitdifierent com binations of dots, without stopping the operation of saidmotor, so that all of the dots of any message are transmitted by theoperation of said device by said motor under the control of said key, incombination with a second make and break device controlled by said keyto transmit the dashes, said key being operative by a single movement inone direction to transmit a succession of dots, and being operated bymovement in the opposite direction to transmit a dash.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said power transmitting meanscomprising a normally closed friction clutch one member of which is heldnormally against rotation by the normal position of said key.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising ratchet dog fornormally pre venting operation of said device, and means on said key todisengage said ratchet dog to permit operation of said device.

a. r structure as specified in claim 1, said make and break devicecomprising a stationary contact and a vibratory lever for engaging saidcontact, rotary means for engaging and vibrating said lever and a springapplied to said lever to ensure the necessary vibratory movementthereof.

5, A structure as specified in claim 1, said power transmitting meanscomprising two gear wheels arranged close together with a friction driveconnection from one to the other, a pinion for driving one gear wheel,and a pinion driven by the other wheel, said last mentioned pinion beingheld normally against rotation by the normal position of said key,whereby one gear wheel rotates continuously while the other one rotatesintermittently under control of said key.

6. The combination of a make and break device to transmit dots, aconstantly operating motor, power transmitting means to transmit powerfrom said motor to said device, and a key to manually control said powertransmitting means and whereby to start and stop the operation of thedevice at will, thereby to transmit difi'erent combina tions of dots,without stopping the opera tion of said motor, so that all of the dotsof any message are transmitted by the oper ation of said device by saidmotor under the control of said key, said key being movable horizontallyin one direction, and having means whereby such movement controls thepower transmitting means to start the operation of said device, incombination with a second make and break device controlled by movementof said key in the opposite direction to transmit dashes, springs tohold said key in normal position, so that both of said make and breakdevices arenormally open, and a vertically disposed pivot for said key,the two make and break devices being adapted for connection in multipleto a line circuit.

7. The combination of a make and break device to transmit dots, aconstantly operating motor, power transmitting means to transmit powerfrom said motor to said device, and a key to manually control said powertransmitting means and whereby to start and stop the operation of thedevice at will, thereby to transmit different combinations of dots,without stopping the operation of said motor, so that all of the dots ofany message are transmitted by the op eration of said device by saidmotor under the control of said key, in combination with a second makeand break device controllable bysaid key to transmit dashes, the twomake and break devices being connected in multiple to a line circuit.

8. In a telegraph sending instrument, a make and break device fortransmitting any desired number of dots in succession, so that all ofthe dots for any message are transmitted by the operation of saiddevice, a

ratchet dog for normally preventing operation of said device, operatingmeans to actuate said device when released by disengagement of saidratchet dog, and a control key having means for disengaging said ratchetdog to start the operation of said device by said operating means, incombination with a second make and break device controlled by said keyto transmit dashes, and springs for holding said key in normal position,so that both of said devices are normally open, said devices beingadapted for connection in multiple to a line circuit.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8, said means for operating saiddevice comprising a toothed wheel held normally against rotation by saidratchet dog, and a vibratory lever engaging said toothed wheel.

10. A structure as specified in claim 8, said means for operating saiddevice comprising a normally closed friction clutch one member of whichis constantly rotatmg and the other member of which is held normallyagainst rotation by said ratchet dog.

11. The combination of a make and break device to transmit dots, aconstantly operating motor, power transmitting means to transmit powerfrom said motor to said device, and a key to manually control said powertransmitting means whereby to start and stop the operation of the deviceat will, without stopping the operation of said motor, in combinationwith a second make and break device controlled by a said key to transmitthe clashes, said key being operative by a single movement in onedirection to transmit a succession of dots, and being operated bymovement in the opposite direction to transmit a dash.

12. The combination of a make and break device to transmit dots, aconstantly operating motor, power transmitting means to transmit powerfrom said motor to said device, and a key to manually control said powertransmitting means and whereby to start and stop the operation of thedevice at will, without stopping the operation of said motor, said keybeing movable horizontally in one direction, and having means wherebysuch movement controls the power transmitting means to start theoperation of said device, in combination with a second make and breakdevice controlled. by movement of said key in the opposite direction totransmit dashes, springs to hold. said key in normal position, so thatboth of said make and break devices are normally open, and a verticallydisposed pivot for said key, the two make and break devices beingadapted for connection in multiple to a line circuit.

13. The combination of a make and break device to transmit dots, aconstantly operating motor, power transmitting means to transmit powerfrom said motor to said device, and a key to manually control said powertransmitting means whereby to start and stop the operation of the deviceat will, without stopping the operation of said motor, in combinationwith a second make and break device controllable by said key to transmitdashes, the two make and break devices being connected in multiple to aline circuit.

JOHN A. HULIT.

